The Aerial Experiment
Association was made up of a group of inventors and aviation
pioneers that included
Alexander
Graham Bell, Frederick W. (Casey) Balwin, John A.D. McCurdy,
Glenn Curtiss, and Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge. After some
experimentation, the group created the Silver Dart, which
operated on a Curtiss 35 horsepower engine.

Their goal, the progression of the science of flight, was
realised 6 December 1908 as the Silver Dart was first test flown
at Hammondsport, New York.

The aircraft was then taken to Baddeck, Nova Scotia and was
piloted by John A. D. McCurdy on 23 February 1909 for the first
successfully manned, powered flight in Canada.

The Aerial Experiment Association dissolved on 31 March 1909
because its objective had been achieved with the flight of the
Silver Dart. This flight was recognised as the first controlled,
power flight by a British subject in the British Commonwealth.

Picture taken November, 1966 for the
Alberta Aviation Council's Convention at the Airport
Inn, Edmonton Municipal Airport. The aircraft is the
"Silver Dart" replica.
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